Acetylene generator



Jan. 12 ,192e. 1,568,988

IL AhIWILFUH ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed July 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T INVENTOR A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 12

D. A. MILAM ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed July 22, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 EN TOR ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES DELBERT A. MILAM, 0F CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

ACETYLENE GENERATOR.

Application filed July 22, 1924. Serial- No. 727,572.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DELBERT A. MILAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene Generators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the structure of an acetylene generator to be used as a starting charge forming device for internal combustion engines and has for a particular ob ect thereof the provision of a simple and readily applied means for forming a highly combustible gas for injection in the intake manifold to assist in starting the engine. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is so constructed that the parts thereof are readily separable to permit cleansing of the device or supplying of the device with the ingredient with which the charge is formed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which means is provided for storage of surplus gas not utilized in the starting operation.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration 'is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention applied to an internal combustion engine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the apparatus showing the construction thereof;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the holding bracket of the carbide generator and water tank;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the storage tank bracket.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the charge forming device proper consists in apparatus embodying, upper and lower casings 10 and 11, the upper casing having upon its bottom a threaded flange 12 for coaction with an upstanding similarly threadedfiange 13 formed upon the open upper end of the lower casing 11. The lower casing 11 forms a carbide chamber while the upper chamber 10 forms a water chamber. 7

Extending through and secured to the upper and lower walls of the upper chamber 10 is a sleeve 14, the upper end of which extends above the upper end of the casing and the lower end of which extends considerably below the lower end thereof. This sleeve is provided within the casing 10 and adjacent the bottom wall 15 thereof with an outlet opening 16 through which water contained within the casing 10 .is passed through the sleeve into the casing 11. Slidably mounted within the bore of the sleeve is a plunger 17, the upper end of which is of the same'diameter as the bore of the sleeve and the lower end of which is of a reduced diameter as indicated at 18. Threaded upon the lower end of the, reduced portion of the plunger 17 is a nut 19, upon the upper surface of which rests a washer 20 adapted to contact against the lower end of the sleeve 14 and when in contact there with seals the lower end of the sleeve against the passage of water therethrough. The plunger 17 is of a length greater than the length of the sleeve and the upper end thereof has threaded thereon a nut 21 forming a seat for one end of a spring 22 which surrounds the upper end of the plunger 17 and abuts the upper end of the sleeve so that the plunger is urged upwardly thereby and the washer 20 kept normally in engage ment with the lower end of the sleeve to seal the same. WVhen the plunger 17 is in its normal position the lower end of the enlarged portion thereof is positioned immediately above the opening 16 of the sleeve 14 so that while the plunger is in this position water may enter the sleeve and fill the space about the reduced portion of the plunger but may not escape from the sleeve because of the action of the valve at the lower endof the sleeve formed by the nut 19 and washer 20. The upper end of the chamber 20 is provided with means whereby water may be introduced thereto as indicated at 23.

The numeral 24 designates anair intake conduit, one end of which is directed through the side wall of the water chamber 10 and sealed to this wall, the projecting end hereof being fitted with a valve 25.

lOO

The opposite end "of the conduit 24 is directed through the bottom wall 15 of the chamber interiorly of the threaded flange 12 of this bottom and has its extremity coiled, as at 26, and provided with a plurality of small openings 27. The numeral 28 designates a gas outlet conduit whichhas one end projected through the side wall of the chamber .10 and the projected portion of this end being provided with one member of a union 29. The opposite end of the conduit28 is directed through the bottom wall of the chamber 10 and sealed thereto and is provided with a coiled extremity 30 having openings 31 therein permitting the passage of gas into the conduit. The second member of the coupling 29 is carried by one end of the conduit 30, which at its opposite end communicates with a storage tank 31 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. This storage tankhas communieating therewith at its upper end an outlet 32 adapted for .connection, as at 33, with the intake manifold34'of an internal combustion engine,- this outlet conduit being valved as at 3 5. The lower end of the storage tank 31Ihas a drain valve 36 of any suitable character. i

As a support for the compartments 10 and 11 I provide a vertical attaching bracket having at its end a horizontal extension 38 provided with an opening for engagementwith a securing element which is in turn engaged with anyfsuitable' support as, for example, one of. the cap bolts 39 upon the head of an internal combustion engine. At its upper end this support is provided with a clamping band 40 adapted to encircle and clamp upon the compartment 10 adjacent the upper end thereof. At its lower end this bracket'is offset inwardly as at 41, and is provided with a reduced clamping ring 12which-clampingly' engages upon the exterior of the threaded fiangelQ upon the bottom of the container 10. It will thus be seen that the carbide container 11 can be readily removed at any time without disturbing the container 10 for refilling. -A vertically extending support rod 43 has its lower end secured to the clamping band 42 and its upper end secured to the clamping band 40, the extremity of the support 43 extending abovethe clamping band 40 and having pivoted thereto one arm 44 of a bent lever. The extremity of this arm extends-over the upperend of the plunger 17 and has an enlarged portion 45 for contact therewith. The opposite end of this lever has connected thereto an operating element 46 which-preferably extends to the dash of the vehicle. As a means of supporting the storage tank 31 we provide a vertically extending bracket 47 having openings 48 through which securing elements maybe directed for securing the bracket to the dash opens the lower end of the sleeve 14; and

closes the opening 16 because of the fact that the enlarged portion of the plunger 17 is brought into alignment with this opening thus permitting onlya certain amount of water to pass to the carbide chamber 11 for contact with the carbide C containedtherein.

This contact causes the formation of gas and as soon as the water has been released the'starter is actuated or the engine otherwise brought into operation to cause suction" within the intake manifold 34 which will cause this-charge to be drawn throughth e storage tank 31 into the manifold of the engine. After the? engine has started the valves 35 and-25 may be closedv so that'th;

carbide gas formed within the'containerll will be deposited in the storagev tank 31 under pressure. When it is'again desired to start the engine this extra carbide gas may be employed for starting the same. The arrangement of the inlet and outlet of the tank 31 prevents passage of water which may be contained in the gas to the intake manifold of the engine and causes its collection in the tank 31 from which'it may be withdrawn from time to time by means of the drain cook 36. It will be obvious that the structure hereinbefore. set forth is capable of' a considerable range of "change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of'my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:' 7

1. In an acetylene gas generator, upper and lower containers, the upper container being provided upon the lower end thereof with a cylindrical interiorly threaded flange, the lower end of said container having a threaded'neck coacting' with said flange, means opening through the bottom of the upper container for permittingthe passage of fluid from the upper container tothe lower-container, an air inlet and a gas outlet for the lower container, means for controlling the passage of fluid from the upper to the lower container comprising a sleeve directed through the top and bottom walls of the upper container, said tube having an opening therein adjacent the bottom of the upper container, a plunger mounted within said tube having its upper portion 'ofthe same diameter as the bore of the tube and its lower portion of less diameter than the bore of the tube, a valve mounted upon the lower end of the plunger and coacting with the lower end of the tube to normally seal the same, the upper end of the plunger having an enlargement, and a spring extending between the upper end of the tube and the enlargement and normally maintaining the valve in engagement with the lower end of the tube, the lower end of the enlarged portion of the plungerbeing disposed immediately above the opening of the tube when the valve is engaged with the lower end of the tube.

2. In an acetylene gas generator, a water chamber, a carbide chamber, an outlet for the carbide chamber and a measuring valve comprising a tube communicating with the water chamber and with the carbide chamher and a member operating within the tube having spaced valves one of which normally closes the communication between the tube and the carbide chamber, the other of said valves closing the communication between the water chamber and the tube upon operation of the member to open the valve controlling communication between the tube and the carbide chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

DELBERT A. MILAM. 

